Acer Swift Go 14 OLED (2024) review: Almost the right choice!

I have been reviewing the new Acer Swift Go laptops side by side and in the last piece I concluded that you'd be making the wrong choice going with the regular Swift Go 14 (SFG 14-72T Review) which didn't provide as much value. Here let me go in-depth into the review of the Acer Swift Go 14 OLED (2024) which brings a couple of upgrades over its non-OLED counterpart for not much extra.

Acer Swift Go 14 OLED (2024) Review: Specifications

• Dimensions, Weight: 12.30 x 8.6 x 0.59-inches (W x D x H), 1.3 kg
• Display: 14″ WQXGA+ OLED panel, 90Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB color gamut, 99% DCI-P3 gamut, 380 nits brightness
• Keyboard: Chiclet backlit keyboard, 1.4mm travel
• Security: Windows Hello-certified fingerprint login, TPM 2.0
• Processor: Intel "Meteor Lake" Core Ultra 7 155H (Intel 4 process)
  • 16C/22T, 4.8 GHz max turbo frequency, 28W base power
• Graphics: Intel Arc (8 Xe-cores)
• RAM: 16GB LPDDR5X RAM (non-upgradable)
• Storage: 1TB SSD (2x M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0, 1x free)
• Audio: Down-firing stereo speaker system
• Battery: 65 Watt-hours with 65W charging
• Webcam: QHD (1440p) camera
• I/O Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 4 (Power Delivery, DisplayPort), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x microSD reader, 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack
• Price in Nepal: NPR 163,000 (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, *at the time of review)
• Check the full specifications of Acer Swift Go 14 SFG14-73 (2024) here

Acer Swift Go 14 OLED (2024) Review:

Understanding the options

Before we begin, let’s understand Acer’s confusing naming scheme. Firstly there are two different models under the Swift Go 14 tag. One carries the “SFG14-72” model number while the other has a “SFG14-73” tag. Both ship with OLED and non-OLED configurations under “SFG14-72T” and “SFG14-73T” respectively and don't have a lot of differences between them. They are still visually discernable though, thanks to the notch and glowing trackpad on the 73 series.

• Check out all the pricing and details of Acer Swift laptops here

For simplicity's sake, I'll be referring to the "SFG14-73" as the 'OLED' variant and the "SFG14-72T" as the normal one throughout this review. My review unit ships with an OLED screen, Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of memory for NPR 155,000 - NPR 165,000 at the time of this review.

Design

• 12.30 x 8.67 x 0.59-inches (W x D x H)
• 1.3 kg, Aluminum build material

The Swift Go 14 OLED looks very similar to its vanilla counterpart. The dimensions are almost the same and it feels just as compact. Visually, the notch above the webcam is useful to distinguish the two and adds a bit more character to the otherwise plain look.

There's no extra addition to the weight or anything though so it is still very portable and feels just as premium with its all-metal body.

Keyboard and Touchpad

• White backlit chiclet keyboard (1.4mm travel)
• Plastic trackpad with digital media controls (with OceanGlass coating)

Despite looking similar, the keyboard on the OLED model feels a bit more high-end and satisfying to type on. The texture on the keycaps is a bit smoother but the travel and layout are pretty much the same. On the other hand, the trackpad brings a new trick up its sleeve. It features a glowing SWIFT text on the bottom paired with digital media playback buttons that light up when streaming music or video. Other than that, it's the same 'diving-board' trackpad as the regular model with a large area, decent tracking, and clicky presses.

Display

• 14" glossy WQXGA+ (2880x1800) OLED display
• 90Hz refresh rate, 100% sRGB, 99% DCI-P3
• 380 nits brightness, ~ Gamma 2.1

A big distinction is in the display department where you get to see a much better OLED screen with higher refresh rate, higher resolution, and better overall specs. The 2.8K screen is a 16:10 panel just like the vanilla WUXGA model but brings better sharpness and clarity. Color coverage is also better with almost full DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB colors on top of the standard RGB gamut. Somehow, the brightness isn't as impressive as last year's OLED model but nearly 400 nits should be enough for most use cases.

In everyday use, you'll notice the poppy colors, those deep blacks, and that fluid 90Hz refresh rate. It's solid all around and I don't think you can ask for much more at this price point. The reflective glossy coating might be offputting for some people but it's really not very big of a deal.

Performance

• Intel Core Ultra 7 155H CPU (28W TDP)
• Intel Arc graphics (Integrated)
• 16GB LPDDR5X RAM, 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD

Since the Swift is now an "AI PC", it features a dedicated Neural Processing Unit (NPU) with a few features sprinkled here and there. That is now responsible for most of the effects like background blur, noise reduction, and auto framing during video calls. It wasn't something that you couldn't do before but the NPU is far more efficient at it than the CPU or GPU. Powering the Swift Go is a Meteor Lake Core Ultra 7 processor. It's based on the newer Intel 4 process and features gains in efficiency and graphics. CPU does get a decent boost in multicore but the single-core score is pretty much the same as a last-gen 'H' series chip. That being said, you are unlikely to notice any bottlenecks or disparities while going on about your day with Word documents, browsing the web, and opening apps.

Intel Arc graphics

That being said, the new integrated Arc graphics is a total game changer.

It is almost twice as powerful as the Iris Xe in older models and you really see that difference. Even gaming is totally possible on the integrated graphics, and I was able to get playable frame rates (30fps+) on a game as demanding as Cyberpunk 2077.  So, it’s no surprise that titles like Counter-Strike and Valorant ran very well too. I was able to play at over 70 fps on the CS2 and over 140 fps (at 1080p) on Valorant with very respectable 1% lows of 35fps and 79fps respectively.

NPU, AI, and the Webcam

As I said before, there’s also a dedicated NPU in the new processor for AI-related things. Besides the video effects mentioned earlier, you can also generate AI images using Stable Diffusion in GIMP, make AI music using Audacity, and use AI effects in Filmora. But chances are the normal target consumer won't ever touch those softwares or push their NPU to the max.

The 1440p was one of the other headlining features but I’m sad to say that its actual quality isn't very impressive. Even when you’re in a fairly well-lit room, the videos look weirdly dark for some reason with especially poor exposure and contrast levels! So much for Quad HD resolution and AI prowess!

Audio and I/O

The speakers are really not very exciting either. They sound tiny with not a lot of bass and impact so I’d recommend using speakers or headphones while watching movies for a more immersive experience.

For that, you can plug your headphones into the 3.5mm jack on the right side of the laptop which also features a Type-A port, a micro SD reader, an LED, and a K lock. On the left, you have your Thunderbolt 4 ports, alongside an HDMI, and another USB A port. I would have preferred to have a USB-C port on either side, but it’s really more of a convenience thing and not a dealbreaker. In terms of wireless connectivity, you get WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.1, so as expected the Swift is pretty fast and browses the web effortlessly.

Battery Life

• 65W battery, supports 100W charging via USB-C PD
• 65W Type-C adapter in the box

Battery life is another strong suit of the Swift Go 14 OLED with Meteor Lake silicon. Not only does the chip have new 'Low Power Efficiency' cores, but the overall TDP and power consumption are less than the last generation. So expect better efficiency for the same battery size, which is exactly what we see in benchmarks and real-life usage. I was getting a full day's work (7-8 hours) done on a single charge which is very impressive for such a thin machine with only a 65Wh cell inside. The non-OLED variant I reviewed previously lasted a little more than 6 hours most days despite having the same chipset and power profiles so the OLED is making some meaningful difference when it comes to energy savings.

I also ran a separate battery life test for video playback, where the Swift Go 14 OLED managed to last over 10 hours straight — versus how the other models died in like 6 to 7.5 hours already — even though they have the same 65Wh battery.

Acer Swift Go 14 OLED (2024) Review: Conclusion

To wrap things up, the 2024 edition of the Acer Swift Go 14 is a superb ultrabook that comes with a fast processor, a gorgeous display, and a long-lasting battery life. Despite all this, I feel like there's a better choice out there. Let’s be honest, most people looking for a thin and light everyday laptop like students, administrative workers, or office professionals aren’t really pushing their laptops to the max. Neither do they even care about things like an AI processor or a faster GPU. This is why I think you should be going with last year’s model for better value instead since that’s available for just under 1 lakh rupees in Nepal right now. After all, it’s got a similar design, an identical OLED display, comparable CPU performance, and good enough battery life. Yes, you will be missing out on that powerful Arc graphics and all the AI stuff, but its sheer value for money is absolutely unbeatable for most folks.

Swift Go 14 OLED (2024) Review: Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Gorgeous OLED display
• Impressive battery backup
• Lightweight metal build
• Powerful integrated Arc graphics
• Lots of ports and Type-C charging

Cons:

• Weak speakers
• Disappointing 1440p webcam
• Premium price for Core Ultra